The katepánō (Greek: κατεπάνω, lit. "[the one] placed at the top", or " the topmost") was a senior Byzantinemilitary rank and office. The word was Latinized as capetanus/catepan, and its meaning seems to have merged with that of the Italian "capitaneus" (which derives from the Latin word "caput", meaning head). This hybridized term gave rise to the English language term captain and its equivalents in other languages (Capitan, Kapitan, Kapitän, El Capitán, Il Capitano, Kapudan Pasha etc.)
Map of the administrative structure of the Byzantine Empire in 1025. The regional eastern commands, variously under doukes or katepano, are outlined. Southern Italy was under the authority of the katepano of Italy, while Bulgaria, Serbia and Paristrion were often under the authority of a single katepano.
The katepáno first appears in the 9th century, when it was used in the generic sense of "the one in charge" by two officials: the head of the basilikoi anthrōpoi ("imperial men"), a class of low-level court functionaries, and the head of the Mardaites marine detachments of the Byzantine naval theme of the Cibyrrhaeots in southern Asia Minor.[1] On the eve of the great eastern conquests of the 960s, however, the title acquired a more specific meaning.
The reconquered frontier zones were divided into smaller themata, and grouped together to form large regional commands, headed either by a doux ("duke") or a katepanō.[2] These were the ducates/katepanates[3] of Antioch, covering the south-eastern frontier in northern Syria, of Mesopotamia in the east around the Euphrates, and of Chaldia in the north-east.[4] During the reign of Emperor Basil II (r. 976–1025), the eastern border was further expanded, and the katepanate of Iberia was established in 1022.
With the catastrophic territorial losses suffered during the 11th century, the office disappears in the sense of the overall military commander, but is retained in a more local level: during the Komnenian and Palaiologan periods, the term katepanikion thus comes to denote low-level administrative areas, both in Asia Minor (including the Empire of Trebizond) and Europe.[1]
These were small subdivisions of the earlier themata, and consisted of little more than a fortified capital (the kastron) and its surrounding territory. In the Palaiologan era, the katepanikion was governed by a kephalē (Greek: κεφαλή, "head"), who had supreme civil and military authority within its bounds.[6] Like many other Byzantine institutions, the katepanikion as an administrative subdivision was also adopted in the Second Bulgarian Empire.
^Note that the original Byzantine term for a territory ruled by a katepanō was katepanikion. The term katepanate/catepanate, used in modern scholarship, is of recent origin. (ODB, "Katepano" (A. Kazhdan), pp. 1115–1116.)
Bartusis, Mark C. (1997). The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society 1204–1453. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN0-8122-1620-2.
Haldon, John (1999). Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World, 565–1204. London: UCL Press. ISBN1-85728-495-X.
Holmes, Catherine (2005). Basil II and the Governance of Empire (976–1025). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-927968-5.
Krsmanović, Bojana (2008). The Byzantine Province in Change: On the Threshold Between the 10th and the 11th Century. Belgrade: Institute for Byzantine Studies. ISBN9789603710608.
Ostrogorsky, George (1956). History of the Byzantine State. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
Runciman, Steven (1988) [1929]. The Emperor Romanus Lecapenus and His Reign: A Study of Tenth-Century Byzantium. Cambridge University Press. ISBN9780521357227.
Further reading
Glykatzi-Ahrweiler, Hélène (1960). "Recherches sur l'administration de l'empire byzantin aux IX-XIème siècles". Bulletin de correspondance hellénique (in French). 84 (1): 1–111. doi:10.3406/bch.1960.1551.
February 01, 2023
katepano, katepánō, greek, κατεπάνω, placed, topmost, senior, byzantine, military, rank, office, word, latinized, capetanus, catepan, meaning, seems, have, merged, with, that, italian, capitaneus, which, derives, from, latin, word, caput, meaning, head, this, . The katepanō Greek katepanw lit the one placed at the top or the topmost was a senior Byzantine military rank and office The word was Latinized as capetanus catepan and its meaning seems to have merged with that of the Italian capitaneus which derives from the Latin word caput meaning head This hybridized term gave rise to the English language term captain and its equivalents in other languages Capitan Kapitan Kapitan El Capitan Il Capitano Kapudan Pasha etc Map of the administrative structure of the Byzantine Empire in 1025 The regional eastern commands variously under doukes or katepano are outlined Southern Italy was under the authority of the katepano of Italy while Bulgaria Serbia and Paristrion were often under the authority of a single katepano Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Sources 5 Further readingHistory EditThe katepano first appears in the 9th century when it was used in the generic sense of the one in charge by two officials the head of the basilikoi anthrōpoi imperial men a class of low level court functionaries and the head of the Mardaites marine detachments of the Byzantine naval theme of the Cibyrrhaeots in southern Asia Minor 1 On the eve of the great eastern conquests of the 960s however the title acquired a more specific meaning The reconquered frontier zones were divided into smaller themata and grouped together to form large regional commands headed either by a doux duke or a katepanō 2 These were the ducates katepanates 3 of Antioch covering the south eastern frontier in northern Syria of Mesopotamia in the east around the Euphrates and of Chaldia in the north east 4 During the reign of Emperor Basil II r 976 1025 the eastern border was further expanded and the katepanate of Iberia was established in 1022 In the West the most famous katepanate that of southern Italy is attested in the Escorial Taktikon a list of offices compiled circa 971 975 and after the successful conclusion of the Byzantine Bulgarian Wars a katepanō of Bulgaria is also attested 4 A Serbian catepanate is also attested which was known as the katepano of Ras 5 With the catastrophic territorial losses suffered during the 11th century the office disappears in the sense of the overall military commander but is retained in a more local level during the Komnenian and Palaiologan periods the term katepanikion thus comes to denote low level administrative areas both in Asia Minor including the Empire of Trebizond and Europe 1 These were small subdivisions of the earlier themata and consisted of little more than a fortified capital the kastron and its surrounding territory In the Palaiologan era the katepanikion was governed by a kephale Greek kefalh head who had supreme civil and military authority within its bounds 6 Like many other Byzantine institutions the katepanikion as an administrative subdivision was also adopted in the Second Bulgarian Empire See also Edit Byzantine Empire portalCapitan disambiguation Captain disambiguation El Capitan disambiguation Catepanate of SerbiaReferences Edit a b ODB Katepano A Kazhdan pp 1115 1116 Haldon 1999 pp 84 85 Note that the original Byzantine term for a territory ruled by a katepanō was katepanikion The term katepanate catepanate used in modern scholarship is of recent origin ODB Katepano A Kazhdan pp 1115 1116 a b Holmes 2005 pp 301 302 Krsmanovic 2008 pp 186 189 Bartusis 1997 pp 33 34 189 190 236 Sources EditBartusis Mark C 1997 The Late Byzantine Army Arms and Society 1204 1453 Philadelphia Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania Press ISBN 0 8122 1620 2 Haldon John 1999 Warfare State and Society in the Byzantine World 565 1204 London UCL Press ISBN 1 85728 495 X Holmes Catherine 2005 Basil II and the Governance of Empire 976 1025 Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 927968 5 Kazhdan Alexander ed 1991 The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium Oxford and New York Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 504652 8 Krsmanovic Bojana 2008 The Byzantine Province in Change On the Threshold Between the 10th and the 11th Century Belgrade Institute for Byzantine Studies ISBN 9789603710608 Ostrogorsky George 1956 History of the Byzantine State Oxford Basil Blackwell Runciman Steven 1988 1929 The Emperor Romanus Lecapenus and His Reign A Study of Tenth Century Byzantium Cambridge University Press ISBN 9780521357227 Further reading EditGlykatzi Ahrweiler Helene 1960 Recherches sur l administration de l empire byzantin aux IX XIeme siecles Bulletin de correspondance hellenique in French 84 1 1 111 doi 10 3406 bch 1960 1551 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Katepano amp oldid 1123494189, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
